The antarctic circumpolar wave in a coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM

Abstract

A phenomenon called the Antarctic circumpolar wave (ACW) suggested by White and Peterson (1996) from fragmentary observational evidence has been simulated in an extended integration of a Max-Planck Institute coupled general circulation model, bearing large similarities to nature. The ACW both in the observations and in the model constitutes a mode of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-sea-ice system that inhabits the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere. It is characterized by anomalies of such climate variables as sea surface temperature, sea level pressure, meridional wind and sea ice, to name a few, that bear intricate and evolving spatial phase relations to each other. (orig.)Available from FIZ Karlsruhe / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman